Its been awhile since I’ve posted here — so much so I’ve moved servers but haven’t had time to import the old posts or layout.
I’d taken to posting privately at vox, but the firewall at my job now blocks that site entirely because it falls in the blogs and social networking category. Ironically, I can access any blogger/blogspot blogs and squarespace still.
Anyway, to sum up in a nutshell since I last posted (for those that remember or visited here back then), I’m still at the same job I’d just started before I took a hiatus. Started a part time business. The boy in question is no longer in the picture, that’s another post for another day.
Which brings me to the present — the rant I have to vent somewhere that doesn’t have my name attached to it (thank goodness for private registrations on domains).
Three years ago at this time, I was days away from completing the comprehensive exams for my master’s degree and weeks from graduating from grad school. My then boss was about to retire, and on staff at the location I worked at, there was only one other person other than myself who was truly qualified to replace the boss, regardless of education requirements. In the end, neither the other person or myself were granted interviews, even for the sake of appearances for all the backlash they got out of it, as they already (for a year in advance) knew exactly who they wanted for the position. As soon as it was obvious on the interviews that weren’t even granted (after four years of working in the department in my case), I started looking elsewhere, even applying in another department at the location. That director, regardless of the technicalities my boss and her bosses used to keep me out of contention, was willing to overlook and hire me to keep me there — but another job offer came along before the application deadline. So I left.
I moved on from that job — something that paid more and got me out of a bad situation of training the person who got the job — and now work in the field my graduate degree is in. I have just over 9 months to go before I will meet the employment requirements to teach at the community college level (a vocational field). My business is starting to grow and bring in income — while not a profit and probably won’t break even this year — that with the economy slowly improving will prosper in time. And while there are things about my day job that annoy the snot and then some out of me, the pros of staying put far outweight the cons for at least another nine months.
Then — late last month, an announcement was posted for the job I wasn’t given consideration for three years ago. That person moved up to another director’s position and out from under the supervisor who wanted them oh so badly enough to do whatever it took to get them in the position. And, in addition to moving on to another department in less than three years, they’ve had to replace a large chunk of their wardrobe (at least I only went up one pants size in that time period …) due to the stress of the two supervisors who wanted them oh so badly. Mine was due to health and the stress of two jobs …
As soon as the announcement went out, someone who works at the location — who will be referred to as NP (aka nagging person) forwarded it to me. So, I emailed the other individual who was qualified back then (and still there in a different capacity) and asked if they were considering applying. After some thought, they said they were. As their degree is in a field closer to the ‘preferred’ degree fields, and the fact they still are there, I felt that it wouldn’t be right to submit an application without really thinking it through.
Its nearly a month later and I’ve given it a lot of thought. Truthfully, the cons outweigh by far the pros in this situation. And my gut says stay put for now.
However, NP has no plans of relenting. The deadline is just over a week away. Any recommendations and references I could have gotten from former coworkers who advocated as well as voiced their unhappiness three years ago most likely are either (a) off work for the summer and probably not checking their emails or (b) backing the other individual. Plus, I truthfully have no clue as to how many applications have been submitted already or where I’d stand in that mix.
Last night, NP made it clear: I would be applying for the job, whether I wanted it or not. (They even enlisted the individual, who a year ago backed me on turning down the other job, not their side). Whether or not it would put me nine months shy of the experience req for what I’d really prefer to make the switch to next summer or fall. Whether or not I wanted to work for the two people who I despise and have absolutely no respect whatsoever for over four years now (karma’s already making her presence known to them). Whether or not the cons outweight the pros.While I’ve walked away from it, turned it over to God rather than burning a bridge at what happened, NP is still bitter and angry at what happened. Won’t shut their mouth; heck, they probably already burned the bridge of opportunity since they don’t know when to shut up and who they shouldn’t rant to, especially as they work there in a part time capacity. They look at it as a significant pay increase, and with the fact I wouldn’t have the longer commute daily, I’d have additional income to put towards something else.
Trust me, its not the extra income, the shorter commute, or the title that turns me off — or what they — or I, for that matter — would be putting the extra income towards. That’s my goal for next year anyway. Its the simple fact my gut says to stay put. I turned down the (almost the next best thing to the dream) job opportunity a little over a year ago, and while I caught flak for doing so, I haven’t regretted it because I listened to my gut instinct. I would prefer to be nearly happy, not make as much, and listen to the rants of NP than to apply, possible net the interview and job, and work for two people I have no respect or like for, have a secretary — when I was in that position I did 90% of the work in the department — who does about 10% of the work in the department, and be miserable. I was miserable the last year I was there, but I stuck it out until I finished grad school and could walk away on my terms, not their’s.
So what do I do? My option is pretty much this — call the mother of the best friend that works in the HR department, get the lowdown if its worth my time updating the resume just yet, filling out the application, scouring my closet for transcripts, emailing and begging for letters (or emails) of recommendation from former coworkers, and, if I get an interview, taking off work — time I could take off for something else I want or need to do since I no longer have the ability to flex out my work schedule and have very little vacation time at the moment — all for a job I don’t want. I have a second person I can entrust to deliver the application rather than NP at least — or who I can ask to say they took one even if they don’t in the end.
Shoot me now — because whether or not I apply and/or am bypassed for an interview, I’m gonna hear about it for at least another three years.